After speaking at a men’s event, I met with individual men for about 30 minutes. As often happens, I noticed one man hanging back, waiting for the others to leave.
When we were the last two in the room, he approached. I asked, “What’s going on?” His voice trembled with desperation as he spent ten minutes unpacking a gut-wrenching business crisis that had spilled over into his marriage.
When he finished, I asked, “Tell me about your Bible reading habits.”
He reared back in surprise, then his shoulders slumped and his chin fell to chest. He muttered, “Well, I used to read the Bible, but with all my problems I haven’t done that in a long time.”
I said, “That’s okay. I understand.” We talked for a few more minutes. As we finished up, I encouraged Tony to re-engage God with private devotions.
Most of you reading this already have some form of private devotions. Many of you could write this article. So think of this as review—but also a guide to help someone get started.
What Are Private Devotions?
Private devotions—sometimes called a “quiet time”—are simply a dedicated period each day to meet with God. It’s a set-apart time to read the Bible, pray, and engage in other spiritual disciplines.
That’s it.
John 4:24 teaches that true worshipers must worship God “in spirit and in truth.” Christianity is not merely knowing about God (truth). It is also knowing God (relationship).
When I do my private devotions, I’m after two things: knowing God (communion), and knowing more about God (discipleship). Communion for the heart. Theology for the head. We need both.
When we open the Bible, we’re not just studying ancient words. We’re meeting with the living God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who delights in meeting with us.
Getting Started: A Tutorial
Let’s say you want to start or restart—or help someone get started—with private devotions. Maybe a child, another family member, or a man you’re coaching.
Tell them, “A quiet time is a routine period—usually at the beginning or end of the day—when five, fifteen, thirty minutes, an hour or more are set aside to read and study God’s Word, pray, and possibly practice other spiritual disciplines.”
Help them start small. Say, “If you don’t already have a time for private devotions, start with five to ten minutes a day to read one chapter of the New Testament. Do that five days a week and you will complete the 260 chapters of the New Testament in one year. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful accomplishment?
“Then pray something simple—the Lord’s Prayer, or use ACTS (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication).”
Encourage them to set a maximum time limit rather than a minimum. That keeps guilt down. Later, if they want more, fine.
Tell them clearly: “The best length of time is the one you will actually do. Don’t bite off more than you will chew. Five minutes may not sound like much, but consistency matters.”
Tell them to aim for five days a week rather than seven—that allows for early meetings, sick kids, and flat tires. But do encourage them to shoot for daily bread, “You wouldn’t expect to eat once or twice a week and stay physically healthy. Neither can you feed your spirit only once or twice a week and expect spiritual health.”
As you grow, you can incorporate other spiritual disciplines:
But remember: This is not about checking boxes. It’s about cultivating wisdom and intimacy with God.
When You’re Ready For More—Or More Structure
Here are two practical frameworks.
30-Minute Plan
One-Hour Plan
These are templates. Adjust them to fit your season.
Going Deeper
I remember a pivotal moment at a conference in Windy Gap, North Carolina years ago. It hit me that my evenings were drifting away in front of a television. Nothing sinful—just unintentional.
And I realized: If I want more of God, something has to change.
So I decided to go to bed two hours earlier.And I got up two hours earlier.
4:00 a.m. Quiet house. Bible open. Coffee in hand.
At first, it wasn’t easy. But it became one of the most important decisions of my spiritual life. Those early hours gave me clarity, steadiness, and a deeper sense of God’s presence that carried through the day.
You don’t have to start with two hours. Start with ten minutes. But understand this: if you want more of God, you will need to settle for less of something else.
Would You Like to Read Through the Bible?
The Bible can feel daunting—roughly 770,000 words. About a dozen average-length nonfiction books.
But here’s what I’ve learned: You don’t finish the Bible. The Bible finishes you. That’s why I encourage men to read through the Bible yearly—something I’ve been doing since 1988.
Here’s a simple path:
Three Questions to Consider
Heart:
Do I truly guard my time with God, or do I give Him whatever is left over?
Head:
Which simple structure—5 minutes, 30 minutes, or an hour—best fits my current season?
Hands:
What one specific change will I make this week to strengthen my private devotions—and who might I help get started?
I can think of nothing that has influenced my life more than spending time alone with God. Can you?
Always on your side,
Pat
PS Who has expressed interested in getting to know God better? Please forward this email to them.
PPS Next Tuesday I’m going to share some Olympic wisdom. Until then!
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